I think I would prefer rock sliders to nerf bars. A.) a bit more extreme and B.) Less common.

Questions:
1.) How much weight can these things take? I'm a BIG boy. How much can they handle? Since I'd use it as a step as well as protection.
2.) I've seen the pics on Daddy Griggs cardomain page and they look great. Would it be feasible to put a layer of diamond plate on the top? Not only feasible but would it be detrimental to anything?
3.) Cost?

Bryan, are you over 250 pounds? I was probably close to that weight when they were put on. They hold me up fine. In fact, they can hold the WEIGHT of the truck up just fine.

They are 1/8" wall tubing, welded, with 1/4" plate steel mounting plates and grade 8 hardware to mount them. For what they do, they are very strong.

The diamond plate should not be a problem

I don't know if Tom is going to make any more. They are easy to make, but require some adjustment on trucks with slightly different frames (year and body style). He spent probably as much time fitting them to my 2002 as he spent MAKING them!!!

I have been testing the living daylights out of them, and they have not let me down.

He definately won't be making any more he said until it gets warmer..after that you'd have to check with him...I dont get it, he wades around in icy puddles in 20 degree weather but cant sit next to some hot metal

Bryan, are you over 250 pounds? I was probably close to that weight when they were put on. They hold me up fine. In fact, they can hold the WEIGHT of the truck up just fine.

They are 1/8" wall tubing, welded, with 1/4" plate steel mounting plates and grade 8 hardware to mount them. For what they do, they are very strong.

The diamond plate should not be a problem

I don't know if Tom is going to make any more. They are easy to make, but require some adjustment on trucks with slightly different frames (year and body style). He spent probably as much time fitting them to my 2002 as he spent MAKING them!!!

I have been testing the living daylights out of them, and they have not let me down.

I am definately over 250...slightly over 350 to be exacter (it's a word, trust me). I'm pretty sure I do not weigh more than the vehicle so I'll assume it should be fine.
Bummer that he's not making anymore for awhile. I have no welding skills tho...How much did you pay for them if you don't mind me being nosy?

My price involved complicated trades and I'm still giving Tom some stuff for it. So I can't comment on the actual price.

NO drilling is required. Tom's brainstorm was to find a way to use existing holes on the frame. Where it breaks down is Ford moved a few of those holes between models and years, even in the same generation truck. That's where the "fitting" comes in. He's actually had to cut off and reweld supports when the holes were too far out of position. Mine did not require that, but He did have to trim the mounting plates and redrill some holes.

i have a set i made not to long ago. but mine are 3/16 and are welded to 1/4 thick plates as well . but i made new hole . I am going to bolt them on once i put my body lift on . (n3elz) those do look sweet on your truck tho. cant wait to put mine on

I have talked to Tom and he is going to make me some next time i am at home for an extended period. He said depending on the price of metal, that it wouldn't be more than $200, which is really good, I think.

Hey, I'm not sure Tom actually wants to keep up with "demand" on these. Pretty much just helping out local guys. For the time he ends up spending on them, there's not much money in it, in terms of $$$ per hour, I can tell you. He may hava a different idea on that, it's just my impresssion.

But maybe he's going to "perfect" his system to where it has multiple holes or something to mount on all the frames. But so far they have defied being simple "bolt ons".

This is not about rock sliders, but you know the single steps, the motor driven ones, that you open the door, they pop down. You close the door, and they go back up. I can't seem to find them. I need steps (not for myself, mainly for my Girlfriend), however my truck will look higher off the ground if i get rid of them nerf bars.

Right now, I have 4 people waiting for a set plus I have to make one to replace the one on Carl's truck that got damaged in the accident. I'm planning to start working on them once it's warm enough to take the boat parts out of the "shop" to make room for me in there. Since I'm making quite a few this time I am going to attempt to make jigs that will speed up assembly because I work on them mostly after work or in my spare time on weekends.

So far, the most time consuming parts have been cutting the plates since I'm using a 4" grinder and metal cutting wheels. I've gotten an oxy/acetalene torch since I made the last set which will make the cutting go much faster. The next most time consuming part is cleaning up my welds. If I leave the welds visable and don't grind them smooth, that would save some time too but I'd rather take the time and make it look nice.

To answer some of the questions... There is no drilling involved unless you want me to add tabs that go under the frame and provide an additional bolt for the front mount and two more for the center mount. There's nothing I can do with the rear because of the gas tank but it's quite strong. I've hi-lifted the truck from my bars to replace my rear wheel cylinder on the side of the road so I can testify to the strength and I don't have the tabs and extra bolts on mine. They are designed to be strong if you sit the truck on them and to not move under my weight when stepping on them. I can't say how much they'll hold as a step but if needed, I can probably find a way to make them stronger as a step. As far as the diamond plate goes, I could easily put some tabs in so that you can add plate or whatever you want. Basically, I can do whatever you want with them.

If anyone else has any questions, please post or PM me. As I said, I've got 4.5 sets I need to make now and could possibly make more depending on how much I can shorten the time it takes to make them.